- A big match will be played in Jammu and Kashmir after 40 years
- Irani Cup held in October
- Most titles won by Rest of India
Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up to host the biggest cricket match in the last four decades. The Irani Cup match will be held in October this year at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. This will be the biggest cricket match in Jammu and Kashmir since the 1980s. According to Times of India report, the match will be played between 2025-26 Ranji Trophy winners Jammu and Kashmir vs Rest of India between October 1 and 5.
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Historic trophy to be held in Srinagar?
This will be the biggest cricket match to be played in Kashmir since the ODI between India and Australia on September 9, 1986. Two ODIs have been played in this stadium in the past. In the first match, India faced the West Indies on 13 October 1983, in which the West Indies were declared the winners under the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) system due to bad weather. In the second match, Australia defeated India by three wickets.
Last year, between October 15 and 18, an important Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Jammu and Kashmir was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium. Left-arm spinner all-rounder Shams Mulani scored 91 runs in the first innings and took seven wickets for 46 runs in the second innings. This brilliant performance won him the man of the match award.
The stadium needs major improvements
According to Jammu and Kashmir head coach Ajay Sharma, the Irani Cup match will be held from October 1 to 5 at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. A source said that the stadium is gearing up for the big match. Since the match will be broadcast live, the stadium will require major renovations. BCCI has sent a team to Srinagar twice to brief the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association about the requirements for hosting this big match. They will require a commentator's room, suitable broadcasting system, media box and temporary and permanent additional spectator galleries.
Currently, the stadium has a seating capacity of 5,000 spectators. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to officially confirm the venue of Irani Cup 2026. Led by 41-year-old batsman Paras Dogra, the Jammu and Kashmir team will certainly rely on swing bowler Aqib Nabi Dar, who was recently picked for India's two-Test tour against Sri Lanka. The 29-year-old fast bowler from Baramulla became the highest wicket-taker in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy with 60 wickets at an average of 12.56.
Most titles won by Rest of India
Rest of India have won 30 Irani Cup titles so far, followed by Mumbai, who have won 15 titles. After playing the Irani Cup match, Jammu and Kashmir will defend their Ranji Trophy title against Madhya Pradesh on October 11. The defending champions have been placed in the elite Group 'A' for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, which also includes Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Baroda, Puducherry, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Goa.
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